Unione Sportiva Salernitana 1919, commonly referred to as Salernitana, is an Italian football club based in Salerno, Campania. Salernitana returned to Serie A in 2021, after a break of 23 seasons, having finished second in Serie B. Previously, in 2015, I Granata were promoted to Serie B, having finished first in Lega Pro Prima Divisione – Girone C. The club is the legitimate heir of the former Salernitana Calcio 1919 and there is a sports continuity also with the former Salerno Calcio in the 2011–12 season which restarted from Serie D rather than from Terza Categoria due to Article 52 NOIF of FIGC.
The club – named Salerno Calcio – was promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione as it re-obtained the original name of U.S. Salernitana 1919. It was promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione the following season.
History
From Unione Sportiva Salernitana to Salernitana Calcio 1919
The Salerno-based club was originally founded in 1919 as the Unione Sportiva Salernitana. The club was known as Societa Sportiva Salernitanaudax for a time during the 1920s following a merger with Audax Salerno. In 1978, the club was renamed Salernitana Sport. The club has spent the majority of their history at the Serie B and Serie C levels of Italian football.
Salernitana play their home matches at Stadio Arechi. In their early years, Salernitana competed in the regional Italian Football Championship. They played at this level for four seasons during the 1920s. Since that time the club returned to the top level of Italian football twice; they played in Serie A during 1947–48 and 1998–99.
In 2005 the club went bankrupt but were refounded by Antonio Lombardi, changing the name from Salernitana Sport to Salernitana Calcio 1919.
In summer 2011, it did not appeal against the exclusion by Commissione di Vigilanza sulle Societa di Calcio Professionistiche (Co.Vi.So.C) and it is excluded by the Italian football.